What cad program would be good to start learning? Hi, I'm a student looking to learn a CAD program. I want to be able to design machines with moving parts(such as engines or robotic arms). The two main programs I'm looking at are solidworks and solid edge. Both companies offer academic programs for cheap or free which is good for my budget. I'm open to other programs but I can't afford to drop several thousand dollars on one. A few hundred would be the most I could realistically afford.